State Receives $3.8 Million Federal Grant To Develop Regional Training Programs

Press Release

Members of Connecticut's Congressional delegation and Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced that the Connecticut Department of Labor has been awarded more than $3.8 million in federal funding that will be used to develop innovative job-training programs focused on building talent pipelines for companies through regional and industry-specific collaborations in the state.

The announcement comes just a day after the Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL) announced that the unemployment rate dropped to 6.0% -- the lowest in nearly seven years -- as 6,600 private sector jobs were add last month. After 20 consecutive months of growth, Connecticut's labor force is now the largest it has been since the 1970's.

"Connecticut has the best and brightest workforce in the world and they're ready to get back to work," Senator Chris Murphy said. "Thanks to the Department of Labor, this grant will build on the tremendous work that job-training programs in Connecticut are already doing, and will help our unemployed get the resources they need to find work and succeed. Today's announcement is a big win for Connecticut's families and hardworking residents, and I'm looking forward to seeing it benefit so many deserving people."

"We're making significant progress -- we just added more than 6,600 private sector jobs this month. With unemployment at the lowest point in years and with nearly 25,000 jobs created over the last year, we are making strides. Yet, in order to continue moving forward, we need to continue to support workers with new training requisite for industries that need employees, so that we can remain competitive in today's constantly changing business environment," Governor Malloy said. "As we anticipate the needs of emerging industries that offer viable employment opportunities, the funds will provide employment services to unemployed workers and connect them to new jobs. Ultimately, we're working every day to ensure that residents have the skills necessary to attain a job for the business needs of today -- and keep it."

The $3,889,995 grant is focused on building "sector strategies" that puts Connecticut's business community in the forefront of regional planning and creating job training programs to help companies grow. Job training strategies that respond to the needs of businesses will connect workers affected by job loss -- including jobseekers that have exhausted unemployment insurance benefits -- to opportunities for work-based learning and new approaches to skill development.

In addition to providing training programs, the grant will be used to partner with local businesses, community colleges, Chambers of Commerce, trade associations and other local organizations to determine specific knowledge and skills needed to create a skilled, sustainable long-term pipeline of workers for these sectors.

The state's five Workforce Investment Boards -- Capital Workforce Partners, The WorkPlace, the Eastern Workforce Investment Board, the Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board, and Workforce Alliance -- will partner with the Connecticut Labor Department. Each Board will work with community groups to determine in-demand jobs in their local area, while three boards will concurrently initiate programs that create a pipeline of skilled workers in advanced manufacturing and healthcare sectors.

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